Bora Bora Through The Eyes Of A Recent Visitor – Helga

This is the First in a series of unsolicited reports forwarded to Bora Bora Insider by recent visitors to Bora Bora. The reports are UNEDITED & appear IN FULL. This is not gratuitous commentary, rather it depicts the genuine experience of the report writer – good or otherwise, warts & all! Bora Bora Insider trusts the information proves a useful tool for those contemplating visiting Bora Bora.

I recently visited Bora Bora for my best girlfriend’s wedding and it was a magical trip. As the bride and groom decided to stay at the Hotel Matira on Matira Beach, many of the wedding guests booked the remaining bungalows. The rest of the guests stayed at the Inter-Continental and other nearby hotels.

The boat ride from the airport was incredibly beautiful. Probably the most memorable airport transfer I can think of. At the Hotel Matira, I stayed with my boyfriend in room 11, a charming beach bungalow right next to the water. The room was very cozy, spacious and clean. I loved the front deck which looked over the beautiful turquoise water and pristine white sand. Thankfully, we were lucky to witness some truly spectacular sunsets from here.

As breakfast was included with the room, every morning Miranda brought us a tray of baguettes, butter, marmalade, croissants, pain-au-chocolat, orange and pineapple juice, coffee and tea along with an array of beautiful, freshly picked flowers. The hotel does not take any special requests for breakfast so we ended up buying some fresh fruit, cereal, bottled water, milk and fresh coconuts from the nearby market to have some healthier options around.

A major plus for the Hotel Matira is that there are no mosquitoes lurking around. I didn’t get bitten once! This is a big bonus as on several parts of the island this can be a nuisance. I made sure to bring bug spray with me but didn’t end up having to use it at all. If you decide to stay at the Hotel Matira, make sure you bring French Pacific Francs from the airport to pay for the transfer and hotel wi-fi which is around US$5 an hour. Also, maybe bring some extra padding as the beds are very firm!

Early on in the trip, we attended a cocktail party for the bride and groom at the Restaurant Matira Beach, situated perfectly next to the beach. It was a wonderful night, with traditional Tahitian music and dancers and a smorgasbord of fresh sushi, seafood and French/Asian inspired food. We also had lunch at the Restaurant Matira Beach another day which was very nice. I had the Greek salad which was very fresh and tasty. This is definitely my favorite restaurant on the island. Make sure you try the sashimi sauce. It’s amazing!

The wedding day was really magnificent. It was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. Early in the morning, the wedding party was transported on a beautifully decorated catamaran to the Town Hall for the Civil Ceremony. We were entertained the whole ride by a group of delightful Tahitian musicians, singing and playing the ukulele. After the Town Hall, we were taken to a motu where the actual ceremony was held. The day went way too quickly but it was filled with beautiful Tahitian music, dancers, rum punch and an incredible spread of traditional Tahitian food. Later that night, the guests reconvened at the Hotel Matira for a fire dancing show and the guests danced way into the night.

One of the highlights of the trip was the shark and stingray feeding tour. I have never been too fond of sharks, so the idea of swimming with them has never been too appealing but I did try it. In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t been so cautious and tried to get closer. The best part of the tour was seeing the bride grab the fin of one of the sharks and taking it for a ride. Luckily her brother captured the moment with his Go Pro and the footage was incredible!

I love Bora-Bora, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m excited to go back one day to explore more of the beautiful island!